Passing Notes: Fall Back Spring Ahead

Unexpected Advice

I was on the phone the other night with the person I like to call my bestest. She has been a good friend to me since my Morehouse days. She's they type of friend that girlfriends and wives never like. She hangs with the fellas; is very loyal; and is protective when it comes to me. The type of friend you would want with you if a fight broke out. We hadn't talked in several months but that wasn't unusual at this point in our lives. The conversation that night eventual went to my current single status and what went wrong in my relationship.

"Krush, sometimes you have to fall back for things to work out."

I understood what she meant because I had thought the same thing.  Hearing her confirmation of it, only strengthened my resolve. Pushing back from a situation can give you the clarity necessary to make a proper decision about how to move forward.  It is wild how hearing something so simple from an unexpected source can make so much more sense than the thoughts that are rambling through your own mind.

I made a promise to myself that I was going to take this summer to enjoy myself and refocusing myself on the things I want to achieve.  So if I told you in the past that I was coming through to visit, this will be the year.  Don’t be surprised when you look up and see me in your favorite spot. 

NBA Playoffs

As I write this the Celtics are putting a hurting on the Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals.  I actually like Boston but I can’t cheer for them in this series because I know they would dominate the Lakers if they met in the Finals.  Yep, I’m going for the Lakers to win it all again.  I just want Kobe to have more rings than Shaq.  Celtics are a problem though.  Between Rondo, KG, Pierce, Jesus and Roscoe, they got too much heart for the Magic. Dwight Howard is getting exposed for being one dimensional and not strong enough mentally to win the whole thing.  Speaking of the mentally weak, Lebron choked once again.  I was cheering against the Cavs all season so I’m good without the Lebron-Kobe matchup everybody else has been looking forward to this year.  The only disappointing thing was that Antoine Jamison was exposed as not being the player we all thought he was. I really thought he was going to make a big difference in the playoffs. 

As far as my Hawks go, they imploded just like they did last season.  I wanted to get rid of the coach two years ago but management decided to keep him after the team stretched the Celtics to seven games in the first round.  He had taken this team as far as he could.  They need an experienced coach to push them over the top.  The way things went down this post season, I don’t expect this team to make the playoffs next season.  New coach, new players, and little expectations.  Looks like I’m back to waiting on the lottery.

FRESH for '09.....You Suckas!

How do you keep a relationship hot? Make sure that you and your baby don't get bored with one another? You ask enough people and you will find that the one thing all of them will say is that you need to have your own life so that you can bring something to the table. Outside interests, circle of friends, and family should never suffer when you are in a relationship. The funny part is that as solid as this advice is, I didn't pay attention to it. Let my relationship take up all my time and never set aside time for me. Bad idea!

So step two of Operation Get My Swagger Back is getting a life. The plan is to get back into my writing, go back to school, hang with my friends, travel, and enjoy life. Its really all about the simple things though like being happy with me. Lately, I have been beating myself up for what I am not. Like Kanye says though, "everything I am not makes me everything I am.". Got to embrace the good and the bad.

How do you express your individuality within a relationship? What things do you do just for yourself that don't include your mate? How do you maintain a good balance between individual growth and the collective growth?

OGMSB: What's Your Passion?

This past weekend, CL and I were sitting down watching some television and ended up seeing an episode of Tough Love on VH-1. One of the women was explaining to the host why she wasn't interested in dating a guy and that was because he hadn't really expressed his passion in life (what he was working towards) to her on any of the dates. She said he must not be ambitious. Obviously, that's an important trait for a potential mate. It made me start thinking about what my passion in life is at this point. And then I thought that I shouldn't really have to think about something that I am passionate about. It should be on my mind all the time. Maybe I need more help than I thought. Anyway, I'm still brainstorming.

What are y'all passionate about? Do you feel that you are making good progress towards that goal?

Operation Get My Swagger Back

Yesterday was a good day primarily because I decided to work on those things that I can control. Number one among those things is my mental outlook. Instead of focusing on the negative, I decided to embrace the good things. It is still hard for me to not take bad stuff personally but one step at a time. So that makes today the second day of Operation Get My Swagger Back.

Trying to figure out how I am going to make it happen. Stop getting in my own way. Start counting my blessings. Great relationship, good family, employed, and healthy. That means that today is a chance to make life better. An opportunity to make better choices.

When I close my eyes I visualize a life that is filled with love. One in which I enjoy myself regardless of the other distractions of life. Grandma would tell me that finding faith in the Lord would be the key to that. Deep down I feel she is right. Need to find my way back to Him. Also know that my path to happiness is within. Everything I am not makes me everything that I am.

I want thank CL for hanging in there with me. You are the best and I love you with all my heart. Good days ahead, sweetie!